Is the Renault Sandero Stepway good for families?
When it comes to ride quality and overall value for money, the often-overlooked Renault Sandero Stepway is light years ahead of its smaller sibling, the much-criticized Kwid. But will the Sandero Stepway work for the modern, nuclear family?
The Sandero Stepway is a hot-seller for Renault. Nothing like the new Kwid, of course, but the more discerning baby SUV-buyer who looks beyond an accessible price tag has found that the Sandero Stepway fulfills in their daily needs rather nicely. Here's why.
1. It has a practical amount of ground clearance
The Stepway's ground clearance was raised to 193 cm not too long ago, which makes fitting a child seat onto the outer rear seats less of a back-breaker. (ISOFIX child seat anchorage points on the outer rear seats are standard.)
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2. Pothole-resistant FlexWheels (in the entry-level Sandero)
Renault devised a clever way to make the Sandero more suited to our poorly-maintained roads: 15-inch FlexWheels that have the ability to bend but return to their usual shape. You do get a full-sized spare wheel in the boot, though. Sandero Stepway models have 16-inch alloy wheels.
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3. A sizeable boot
The Stepway's boot is a handy 292 litres, so you can fit that baby stroller in there with ease. The boot floor isn't completely flat when you fold the rear seats forward, but we don't reckon this is the end of the world.
4. There's a three-point seatbelt for the rear-middle passenger
It's not the rear bench with the most legroom, but the middle child need not feel like the third wheel with a lap belt only. In this segment, this rear-middle lap belt is all too common, so we applaud Renault for adding a proper seatbelt.
5. It's fuel-efficient
The Sandero's light little body and 0.9-litre turbo-engine (with 66kW and 135Nm) work well together to keep fuel usage to a minimum. Sure, there's a bit of turbo lag, but when your average consumption is under the 5.5 litres per 100 km mark, your petrol money will last so much longer, you'll have money left over for wine. An eco-mode button is standard and the engine shuts off temporarily when you're sitting at the robot or in traffic.
6. Four airbags in Stepway Plus models
While the other Sanderos get two airbags each, the Stepway Plus gets side airbags as well. Other safety features include ABS with brake assist and electronic brake force distribution, and above mentioned traction and stability control that will keep the Sandero from slipping or skidding and keep you in control of the car.
7. Hill-start assist
A standard feature in every Sandero. Pretty handy if you need to pull away at and incline and you haven't quite mastered that pesky clutch control.
8. MediaNav infotainment system in the Stepway Plus, now with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto functionality
The easy-to-use MediaNav system with sat-nav and smartphone mirroring as well as a rearview camera gives you "eyes" in the back of your car, and the ability to stay on the correct route. The Stepway Plus also has cruise control, electrically adjustable mirrors, and electrical windows in the front and rear. All models of Sandero have Bluetooth, AUX/USB ports and a 12V power socket.
9. Kids are well-protected in the Sandero Stepway
The Global NCAP safety rating awarded the Sandero with a four-star rating for children, so you can rest assured you little ones are kept safe.
10. A decent warranty, service plan, and parts availability
Inexpensive, readily available parts and a 5-year/150 000 warranty (with a 2-year/30 000 km service plan) will ensure you don't encounter any unexpected (expensive) surprises from your local dealership.
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